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Medical and Health
Staying healthy,
medical insurance,
what to do if you
get sick,
over-the-counter
drugs, and general
health information
for tourists in
Puerto Vallarta.
Prior to leaving the
states for Mexico,
you may want to call
your health care
provider and confirm
your coverage for
international care.
Medicare and
Medicaid included,
most plans do not
cover health care
outside of their own
country, or they
cover through
reimbursement.
Travel Medical
Insurance can be
purchased through
special travel
insurance providers.
Contact information
for MEDEX and Travel
Assistance
International, etc
are listed on our
Puerto Vallarta
Phone Numbers
page.
"Can I drink the
water in Mexico?"
The majority of
water in Puerto
Vallarta is purified
to protect tourists
from unfamiliar
bacteria. To
be on the safe side,
bottled water is
available in every
convenience store,
grocery store,
restaurant and
hotel, etc.
Vegetables including
salads, are washed
and drained, using a
purifying vegetable
wash dilution.
To be on the safe
side, salads can be
skipped in
off-the-beaten-path
restaurants.
Mild cases of
"Montezuma's
Revenge" can be
easily taken care of
with Pepto Bismol
which is available
in all grocery
stores and
pharmacies.
Yogurt is easy for
digestion and can
aid in correcting
the situation but
plenty of water
should be drank in
the meantime, since
diarrhea and
vomiting from the
condition can lead
to dehydration.
Over the counter
drugs in Mexico-
Antibiotics and
other prescription
drugs can be
purchased over the
counter at any local
pharmacy.
Crossing the border
with these however,
often brings a
request for a
prescription when
presented to the
customs agent.
English speaking
physicians can be
found easily by
asking your hotel
concierge or
calling your local
embassy.
Physicians can be
consulted and
prescriptions
purchased through
them as well, for
ridiculously cheap
prices, for example,
$150 pesos ($15 US
Dollars) for a
physical. This
is also the reason
thousands of
Americans choose to
come here for their
dental work- both
cosmetic and
non-elective.
Insect Repellent
-The city of
Puerto Vallarta sprays for
mosquitoes regularly, so they
are not considered much of a
problem anymore. However,
if you are prone to mosquito
bites and prefer to stay on the
safe side, insect repellent can
be picked up at any grocery,
convenience or pharmacy in
Puerto Vallarta. |
Important Phone
Numbers:
International
Association for
Medical Assistance
716.754.4883
Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention
800.311.3435
MedicAlert
Identification Tags
888.633.4298
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